Lyme Disease Analysis

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is spread through the bite of a deer tick. The ticks are carried by several different animals that live in wooded areas. They range from deer, raccoons, skunks, to chipmunks and squirrels. (WebMD). Lyme disease is virtually only found in the northeast and upper Midwest of the United States. The states that Lyme disease is found in include, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. In 2014, 96 percent of all cases came out of these states. Upwards of 30,000 people a year are diagnosed a year with Lyme disease. This is only a fraction

If a patient does not have a rash that presents itself, they can undergo blood tests to diagnose this disease. The first blood test includes ELISA. This tests for the amount of antibodies in the blood that are against the Lyme disease bacteria. If this first blood test is positive the patient then undergoes a Western Blot (Centers for Disease). This includes running the blood the test the antibodies against proteins found on the Lyme disease bacteria. A spinal tap is also performed for patients that experience nervous system problems. This test also looks for antibodies that are against the Lyme disease Bacteria.

One can do this through many ways. Avoiding direct contact by not walking in wooded areas and staying on trails is one way to stay away from the ticks. Another way of avoidance is through repellant. These include repellents that contain DEET and using permethrin to cover clothing. Checking yourself after being outside is another good way to avoid this disease. If you have been bitten by a tick, this does not mean you have already been infected. The tick has to have its blood meal before infection can occur, so if a tick is noticed, removal can also prevent infection. Bathing or showering, putting clothes in the dryer to kill remaining ticks, and checking pets are other good prevention methods. Other ways of prevention include, wearing long sleeves and light clothing, tucking your shirt into your pants, and keeping all grass trimmed. In 1998, a vaccine was made for Lyme disease. The vaccine was reported to make people sick, but was not at all dangerous. The vaccine was discontinued in 2002 because it was not being sold. Today there is not currently a vaccine for Lyme disease